Umiam Dam’s current water level not enough for uninterrupted power supply: MeCL

The MeECL chairman said that if the situation improves in the coming days, the load-shedding hours will be reduced

Meghalaya’s power woes are far from over. Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeCL)’s chairman and managing director, Sanjay Goyal, has said that although there has been a rise in the water level at Umiam Lake by almost 6 to 7 feet, it is still not enough to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the state.

“There has been rise in the recent 3-4 days. Level of Umium Lake has risen by almost 6 to 7 feet. The water at present is not sufficient for 10 to 11 days of production,” Sanjay Goyal said.

Goyal said that the MeECL has made arrangements for additional power from National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), and other sources to maintain the present level of load shedding.

“We have arranged additional power from NTPC from the open market to maintain the present level of load shedding,” Sanjay Goyal added.

The MeECL chairman said that if the situation improves in the coming days, the load-shedding hours will be reduced.

The state has been reeling under one of the worst power shortage. Certain parts of Meghalaya are seeing power cuts for as long as 10 hours.

The minimum level of water required for power generation at Umiam is 3,164 feet. Built in the early 1960s, the Umiam Reservoir is located about 10 km north of Shillong. The maximum water level of the reservoir is 3,210 feet (978.41m).

Meghalaya at present has the capacity to generate 1.5 million units or less than that against the requirement of 6.67 million units.

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